Hosiery finishing machine



Aug. 22, 1950 H. RICHTER 2,519,981

uosmmz FINISHING MACHINE I Filed March 29, 1947 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 22, 1950 H. RICHTER HOSIERY FINISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 29, 1947 "@lllllll ,5: r, R-e m m rl Aug. 22, 1950 H. RICHTER HOSIERY FINISHING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 29, 1947 INVENTOR.

ffenzfyfichfer, BY 0 2/ Patented Aug. 22, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT TO FFI CE.

HOSIERY FINISHING MACHINE Henry Richter,:Kanka-lree, Ill., assignor to Para-- mount Textile Machinery 00;,Kankakee, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 29, 194%,Ser1'al No. 738,084

7 Claims.-

the United States patent to Thomas W. Prosser up and John H. Wahlbeoh, No. 1.9%21729, datedJanuary 9, 1934, in which there is disclosed a formo'f. hosiery drying apparatus having a plurality of internally heated hosiery forms mounted forp'ivotal movement about their support in response to the operation of a series of cams which are con-- trolled at the will of the operator so that the forms are moved ingroups or insucc'ession from the treating position to the boardingposition where the operator removes the hosiery which has been treated and replaces it with. other untreated articles. Upon the completion of the boarding operation the forms are returned to the treating position and other forms are advanced tothe" boarding position. Insaid prior apparatus, the movements of the forms were controlled through mechanism actuated. by a hand operated lever and considerable time of the operator was neces sarily consumed in manipulating this lever to bring about the desired movements of. the forms at the proper times.

The principalobjectof the present inventionis to provide improved hosiery drying apparatus of the type referred to in which the relative movements of the forms are effected by mechanism controlled by the body of the operator so that both of the. operators hands are at. all times? free for-manipulating. the hosiery on the forms; More speoifically,. an object of the invention is torprovide hosiery drying. apparatus comprising a: pin-- rality of relatively movable pivotal formsadapted; to be actuated periodically by a control mechanism operated by a movable bar. against which the operator may lean at the desired time in: order to set in. motion the actuating. mechanism for changing the positions of the forms.

Still another object is to provide a finishing machine of. this type having a relatively long operating bar adjacent theoperators position which may be actuated by the operator: atrainy point along the row of. hosiery drying. forms in order to cause the; actuation of the. mechanism. by which. therelative movement of: the" formsis; effected.

Other obj ects: of the invention: relate: to-various ,2 features of construction. 11d: arrangement which will: appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature:- oi the invention will be understoodfrom the fiol'lowingespecification taken-with the accompanying: drawings in; which. one embodiment is illustrated. In. the drawings,

Figure 1 shows atop plan view of the improved: hosiery dryinn; machine of the present invention;-

Fig'l 2 shows a vertical sectional View taken on the line 2-4: ofiFig; 1

Fig. 3 shows a vertical sectionalvi'ew taken on the line 3 3 of Fig; 1;. and

Fig. 1 showsa front el'evation of the controlling bar and associated parts whi'chare: illustrated Fi -L 1...

" a floor or other supportpandtransverse frame members ESE-also adapted torest upon: the noon upperlongitudinal framememhers Hlc and upper transverse frame members: find. These horizon tallyextendi'ng frame members are connectedby 5 the corner f r-atriamembers file and; betweemthd ends or the frame; by other upright frame merit-- hers I Hf. The front and rear longitudinal frame" members lief-are connected between: their ends by a horizontal transverse-framemember l ng.

These frame members support other auxiliary-i partsof" the fiame structure which willbe herein after ref errediio as: themee'hani'sm as described-i In the lower part of the frame structure, there is mounted a horizontally extending longitudinal shaft H having its ends fitted inbearings, not

- and. Hi, respectively; whichrextend longitudinally of the: machine above the shaft I I- The supportingarms [a are bowed in the region: of

the pipes. l1; and liagas: shown at I2a.,. in: order-to permit the: forms to: be swung inwardly: or rear-'- wardly to. positions. wherein. the: forms l4 extend in vertical planes parallel to each' other and: ina continuous: row; of thesarmsvltmayberocked forwardly about thetshatt H. inord'erxtomove a form forwardly to the' inclined position:

shown at Ma in- Fig..2"whlch .is-the-boardingcposl tion wherein the operator removes and replaces the hosiery being treated. Each arm I2 is normally moved toward its forward inclined position by a coil spring I9 connected at one end to the bowed portion I2a of the arm and at the other end to a horizontal frame member 20. Each form supporting arm is also actuated toward its rearward upright position by a coil spring 2I having its forward end attached to the lower part of the bowed portion I2a of the arm and having its rear end attached to a longitudinal frame member 22.

The movement of the form supporting arms I2 between the two extreme positions illustrated in Fig. 2 is effected by a series of cams 25, 26, 21, 28, 29, 30, 3I, 32, 33, 34, 35, and 36 which are fixed on a horizontal cam shaft 31 extending longitudinally of the lower part of the machine and having its ends journaled in bearings which are not illustrated. These various cams are capable of relative angular adjustment on the shaft 31 but are'normally relatively fixed and are of such confi uration that they bring about the desired sequential movement of the form supporting arms I2 in response to the manipulation by the operator of the control mechanism hereinafter described. The movement of the arms I2 by the cams on the shaft 31 is effected through a, series of cam followers 38, each having the form of a bell crank lever provided at one end with a roller 39 adapted to be engaged by the surface of one of the cams. Each follower 38 is pivoted at 40 on a member 4! which is relatively fixed with respect to one of the form supporting arms I2 and each follower is normally moved in a forward direction against its arm I2 by a coil spring 42 connected between an ear on the upper part of the follower and another ear on the adjacent face of the arm I 2; The extent of this movement of each follower toward its arm I2 is controlled by a set screw 44 having threaded engagement with the lower part of the arm I2 and adapted to be secured in adjusted position by a lock nut 45. By adjusting these set screws 44 the normal position of the cam follower 38 with respect to its arm I2 may be regulated as desired, thereby controlling the amplitude of movement of the arm I2 and its form I4,

- The cam shaft 37' is driven by a sprocket gear 41 fixed on this shaft and arranged to mesh with an endless sprocket chain 48 which also passes around a sprocket pinion 49 fixed on the shaft 500. of a speed reducer 50 supported on a shelf 5I which is carried by intermediate longitudinal and transverse frame members 52, as shown particularly in Fig. 3. This speed reducer 50 has a horizontal driving shaft 501), shown in Fig. l, which has mounted thereon a clutch member 53a normally moved to its retracted position by a spring 560 and adapted to engage another clutch member 53b which is actuated by the shaft of a gearing device 54 arranged to be actuated by the shaft 55a of an electric motor 55. During the operation of the apparatus the motor 55 is continuously in operation and it is connected periodically to actuate the cam shaft 31 through the operation of the clutch members 53a and 53b.

The actuation of the form supporting arms I2 by the various cams on the shaft 3! is controlled 2 59a downwardly by means of two coil springs SI and 62, respectively, which extend upwardly from the right-hand parts of these levers, as viewed in Fig. 3, and have their upper extremities attached to a bracket 63 fixed on the transverse frame member 66a of the machine, These trip levers 58 and 59 are provided at the ends thereof opposite the teeth 58a and 59a with fiat surfaces 58b and 59b which terminate at their forward ends in shoulder 58c and 590, respectively. These shoulders form the outer boundaries of recesses adapted to be engaged by the lower toothed extremity 55a of a latch lever 55, which is pivoted at an intermediate point on a stud 66 carried by the bracket [33. The upper end of this lever 55 is connected by a rod IS? with an arm 581) formed on a lever 68 which is pivoted at 69 on a fixed bracket "Hi. When the lever 68 is moved in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 3, the toothed extremity 85a of the latch lever is moved toward the right and on to the surfaces 581) and 59b of the trip levers 58 and 59, assuming that these fiat surfaces have then been depressed by the engagement of the teeth of these trip levers with one of the index pins 51.

The lever 68 also has an arm 68c extending parallel to the arm 682; and having a pivotal connection with a rod II. The rod slidably engages a block 72 mounted on the end of a clutch operating lever '13. A coil spring 14 is mounted on the rod 1| between a fixed pin 15 on the rod and the block [2 and this spring is of such strength that a thrust on the rod II, toward the left, as viewed in Fig. 3, rocks the clutch lever 13 about its pivot 76 thereby disengaging the clutch members 53a and 531) which are normally moved into engagement with each other by the springs previously described.

The lever 68 also comprises a depending arm 88d which has its lower end pivotally connected with an operating rod T adapted to be actuated by the movable core of the solenoid 80 to which it is connected. This solenoid is mounted at the rear of the machine and when its core is moved toward the rear of the machine by the energize.- tion of the winding of the solenoid, the lever 68 is rocked about its pivot in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, the clutch members 53a and 531) are engaged and the extremity a of the latch lever 65 moves into the recesses opposite the shoulders 58c and 590 of the trip levers 58 and 59. This causes the rotation of the sprocket gear i! and of the cam shaft 31 and at the same time permits the teeth 58a and 59a of the trip levers to drop down into the path of travel of the index pins 57.

The cam shaft 31 thereupon causes the actuation of certain of the cams 25 to 36 which are mounted on the cam shaft with the result that one or more of the forms H are rocked in a forward direction from the treating position to the boarding position. After this movement has been effected, the extremities 58a and 59a of the trip levers are engaged by the succeeding index pin 51 of the series, thereby depressing the righth-and portions of the trip levers, as viewed in Fig. 3, and permitting the hooked extremity 65a of the latch lever to ride up over the surfaces 58b and 59b of the trip levers under the influence of the springs which then cause the clutch members 53a and 53b to become disengaged. The parts are then brought to rest with the desired forms I4 in the forward boarding position and with the teeth of the trip levers held in their upper positions out of the path of travel of the amazon index pinsi 51 by theengagement" of: ithe lower end ofth latch leverfi5- with thesurfaces 58b andJSb of the trip levers. "-When the operator has finished working on the forms; which are 'in the boarding position, thezsolenoid. 80 is..again.

at the forward side of the machine near the top. The ends of thisbar are at:

of the frame It). tached to arms 86. which are pivoted at 81 on fixedrbrackets 88 attached to the end portions of the frame. A bearing member 89 is secured to the bracket 88 and has mounted therein a vertically slidable pin 90 having a fiat head'which engages the underside of the horizontal top portion of the operating bar 85. A coil spring 9| is mounted on the pin 90 to bear at its upper end against the head 90a of the pin and at its lower end against the bearing member '89, with the result that the bar 85 is normally moved in an upward direction to the extent permitted by stop pins which are attached to the brackets 88.

At an intermediate point between thebrackets 88 there is mounted an electric switch 92 which is connected in the electric circuit of the solenoid 8B .andiwhich has a spring actuated plunger; 32:; adapted to be actuated by a lug 85a'formedaon. the inside oi the bar 85. The ba r 85- is located at Such an elevation that it may be convenientl engaged by the hip or thigh of the operator during the boarding process so that the solenoid 80 may be actuated to bring about the desired sequence of movements of the forms It while at the same time leaving both hands of the operator free to manipulate the stockings which are being removed from and placed upon the forms which are in the boarding position. The bar 85 is of substantial length so that it may be engaged by the operator in any position along the length of the row of forms and when the solenoid has been energized to initiate the closing of the clutch and the consequent rotation of the cam shaft, the operator releases the pressure on the bar 85,

whereupon it is restored to its normal position by the springs BI and the switch 92 is opened.

Two trip levers 58 and 59 are provided so that the shoulder (580 or 590) of one lever will be free to engage the latch 65a of the lever 65 even' though the sprocket gear 4'! stops with one of the teeth (58a or 59a) resting upon one of the index pins 5?, which is permitted by reason of the fact that one of the shoulders 580 is at a greater distance from the pivot 60 than the other shoulder 590. When the solenoid 80 is energized by an instantaneous light touch on the operating bar 85, the clutch member 53a instantly engages the clutch member 53b. The latch lever 65 must then operate to hold the two clutch members engaged and the shoulder 590 of the lever 59 is then free to swing upwardly under the influence of the spring 52 because its tooth 59a is then free of the index pin, assuming that the wheel 41 has previously stopped with the tooth 53a resting on one of the pins 51. 41 rotates sufiiciently to allow the tooth 58a to lower, the shoulder 580 also moves upwardly to latching position under the influence of the spring 6 I. When the next index pin 51 moves to tripping position, this pin first raises the tooth Then, as soon as the wheel SQaQthereby flowering-I the shoulder; lite, and al lowingthe latch 535cc 1 0f the lever to .swing .into engagement with the shoulder 58c, while at the same time engaging .the shoulder 59b to hold the shoulder.-:i59c depressed. The disengagement. of

the 1 clutch members53aand 53b does not occur until -:the index pin raises the tooth 58a .and therebylowers the shoulderv 580. .Both shoulders 58c=andi59c=being .thenlowered, the clutch members disengage, zthus stopping the rotation ofthe sprocket gear 41 and leaving the tooth 58d restingon antindexpin.

'I-hecams which-operate :the arms l2 to move the forms 14 maybe of such configurati'onand relaJtive arrangement as to-rnove the forms .to-

the-boardingposition-in any desired sequence. With the arrangement shown inflthe drawings, the eams-i'ig-fit and 21 movethre'e for-ms to boarding position upon the initial actuationaof the bar 85-at the beginning of the operationof the maohine. .After the three stockings ar-e stripped from these forms, the second and third forms'are then returnedto the drying position,-

leaving one-form out in the-boarding position to :permit'another stocking to be placed thereon'loy the :operator. When the next index pin 51 engages the trip levers, the first form is returned to' the' dryingposition and cam -25 then moves the second form to the boarding position. After "1a stocking-has been placed on-this second -iorm it returns to the drying position and cam 21 then moves the third form to the boarding position. Thesesuccessive operations are then duplicated by the-next group of cams 28, 29 and-30 and, f thereafter, by the two' other groups-of cams 3i,

32 and 33, and 34, 35 and 36. By reason of the improvement of the present invention the operator is enabled to strip the hosiery from the forms and to place new untreated hosiery thereon much more rapidly than has heretofore been possible because at all times both hands of the operator are free for the stripping and boarding operations.

Although one form of the invention has been shown and described by way of illustration, it will be understood that it may be constructed in various other embodiments which come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hosiery drying machine comprising a plurality of drying forms each movable between a drying position and a boarding position, power operated means for moving said forms in both directions selectively between said positions, actuating mechanism for controlling the operation of said moving means, and electrically operated means for operating said actuating mechanism.

2. A hosiery drying machine comprising a plurality of drying forms each movable between a drying position and a boarding position, power operated means for moving said forms selectively between said positions, actuating mechanism for controlling the operation of said moving means,

and means operable by the body of the operator in a plurality of positions for controlling the operation of said actuating means.

3. A hosiery drying machine comprising a plurality of drying forms each movable between a drying position and a boarding position, power operated means for moving said forms selectively between said positions, actuating mechanism for controlling the operation of said moving means, and means including a bar extending horizontally and transversely to the direction of movement of said forms adjacent the operators posi- 7 tion to be engaged by the body of the operator above his knees for controlling the operation of said actuating means.

4. A hosiery drying machine comprising a plurality of drying forms each movable between a drying position and a boarding position,,means for moving said forms selectively in groups and individually in both directions between said positions, actuating mechanism for controlling-the operation of said moving means, an electric circuit including a solenoid for controlling the operation of said actuating means, and means including a movable bar mounted adjacent the operators position in a location to be engaged at any one of a plurality of points thereon by the thigh of the operator for controlling the operation of said solenoid. V

5. A hosiery drying machine comprising a plurality of drying forms each movable between a drying position and a boarding position, means for moving said forms selectively between said positions, actuating mechanism for controlling the operation of said moving means, an electric circuit including a solenoid for controlling the operation of said actuating means, a horizontal bar movably mounted adjacent the operator's position for bodily movement transversely of its length, and a switch connected in said circuit and actuated by said bar when engaged by the body of the operator for closing said circuit.

6. A hosiery drying machine comprising a plu-' rality of drying forms each movable between a drying position and a boarding position, means for moving said forms selectively between said positions, actuating mechanism for controlling the operation of said moving'means, an electric circuit including a solenoid for controlling the operation of said actuating means, a horizontalbar movably mounted adjacent the operator's position for bodily movement transversely of its length, a switch connected in said circuit and actuated by said bar when engaged by the body of the operator for closing said circuit, and means for returning said bar to its initial position after it has been operated.

7. A hosiery drying machine comprising a plurality of drying forms each movable between a drying position and a, boarding position, means including a series of cams for moving said forms selectively between said positions, means for rotating said cams, a clutch for controlling the operation of said rotating means, means for selectively determining the sequence of movement of said forms by said cams, and means including an electric circuit and a switch operating bar adapted to be actuated by the body of the operator for controlling the operation of said selective means and said clutch.

HENRY RICHTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,942,729 Prosser et a1. Jan. 9, 1934 2,299,041 Schwartz Oct. 13, 1942 2,413,994 Otis Jan. 7, 1947 2,419,645 Hurxthal Apr. 29, 1947 

